Seward, Alaska
Miraculously, yesterday's downpour ceased during the night and the spent clouds surreptitiously slunk away. By noon, Seward had a twin to Tuesday with a smiling sun, mild temps in the high 40s, and a mirror calm Resurrection Bay. Hard to believe that in between, Wednesday featured a hard frost and biting cold northerly wind, followed by the flood. What a week for weather!
Miraculously, yesterday's downpour ceased during the night and the spent clouds surreptitiously slunk away. By noon, Seward had a twin to Tuesday with a smiling sun, mild temps in the high 40s, and a mirror calm Resurrection Bay. Hard to believe that in between, Wednesday featured a hard frost and biting cold northerly wind, followed by the flood. What a week for weather!
This was a day to put in a treasure box to save for a rainy, cold, dark day in December! Shortly before 1:30 pm, the waning moon seemingly perched on the rim of sparkling
snow-capped mountains as it said good-bye. The brilliant blue sky seemed to
penetrate right through that celestial body, infusing it with a blue
translucence. Quite a treat!
I headed once again over to
SMIC at Mile 5, Nash Road to search for the Long-billed Murrelet. While there
were never lots of birds altogether in the boat basin, as time passed, many
birds flew or paddled in to feed on small schools of fish: 8 BARROW'S
GOLDENEYES, about 12 PELAGIC CORMORANTS, 10 HORNED GREBES, 6 MARBLED MURRELETS,
a COMMON MERGANSER hen, a single PIGEON GUILLEMOT hatch year, and several noisy
hatch year and adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. A sea otter also swam in facing
forward like a river otter, and then flipped over to continue as usual,
swimming backwards. It's a wonder they don't hit anything.
Using the scope, I scanned
far out into the bay. Even tiny MARBLED MURRELETS with their white collars,
were easy to identify thanks to the calm water. Small groups of seabirds dotted
the water, moving quickly when others began diving and feeding, additional
species included: 3 SURF SCOTER females, 1 BLACK SCOTER female, 1 COMMON LOON,
and 2 PACIFIC LOONS.
While scanning, I suddenly
picked up the rapid wingbeat of a BELTED KINGFISHER flying 20-30 feet above the
water, making great circles over the other seabirds. As I followed it, another
KINGFISHER appeared, flying a parallel course. It was amazing how long and how
far they flew over the water without feeding or taking a break. At times, they
cruised just a foot or two above the water, apparently seeking but not finding.
Over the horned grebes, past
the surf scoters, around the pelagic cormorants, zipping by the diving marbled
murrelets, over the yellow-billed loon.
What! A YELLOW-BILLED LOON
indeed, a young brownish bird with a pale face and upturned bill gleaming in
the sun. What a pleasure! Back to the frenetic Kingfishers, who eventually
rattled their way to the Spring Creek wetlands and rested on a snag. I can't
begin to count the calories they must have expended on that long sortie. Maybe
it was a contest?
I spent several hours here,
enjoying the warm sun, the peaceful lapping of wavelets against the breakwater,
and the spectacular scenery all around.
On the way home, I stopped to
enjoy a single TRUMPETER SWAN feeding on the aquatic vegetation of the Mile 1
Nash Road wetlands. It won't be long before this shallow pond ices up and
nudges the swan on its way south.
Though the Long-billed
Murrelet escaped me, I felt rich in the bounty of the other birds and beauty of
the late October afternoon.
Other news:
I was not able to check on
the Yellow-breasted Sapsuckers today, but hope others will post if they saw
any.
A LONG-TAILED DUCK, male was
reported in the bay right in front of town along the Greenbelt. Coincidentally,
I also found a dead long-tailed duck today, tangled in the wrack line, a victim
of the recent storm. This species is not common here.
PINE GROSBEAK numbers are
increasing in town, feeding on Mt Ash berries with VARIED THRUSHES and ROBINS.
DARK-EYED JUNCO numbers are also on the upswing.
Tuesday, Oct 22:
Jim H reported 10
WHITE-WINGED and 10 SURF SCOTERS, 2 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 4 PACIFIC LOONS,
2 adult and 1 juvenile COMMON LOONS, and at least 10 pairs of MARBLED MURRELETS
on a boat trip to Fox Island. He noted that the shore was busier than in the
middle of the Bay. On the island was 1 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (!), several
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, and 1 PACIFIC WREN.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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